Category: More News

TO bring their celebrations for Fairtrade Fortnight to a close on a high note, John Hampden Primary School in Thame went bananas on Friday! (March 02)

The school joined another 400,000 banana eaters from Woking to the Windward Islands, in the world?s biggest ever banana-eating event! Everybody ate at least one Fairtrade banana ? generously donated by the Thame Co-Op ? and enjoyed arty and musical fun as well, including a banana assembly with banana songs.

The kitchen staff baked a delicious banana cake for the school dinner pudding. More than 260 healthy Fairtrade bananas were consumed and the skins added to the school composting.

During the Fortnight, the Fairtrade group also held a cake sale and a staff coffee (and cake) morning. Everyone enjoyed the yummy cakes made with Fairtrade ingredients and the REAL Fairtrade coffee!

Photo: Flash back to John Hampden school’s Carnival entry in June 2007 – they obviously love bananas!

A THAME jeweller is inviting children to draw or paint a picture of their mum and win a real, diamond necklace.

The Mother?s Day competition is being organised by jewellery store, Biagio, in Greyhound Walk, Thame.

As well as the main prize, a diamond pendant worth

THE Jane Morbey Toy Library in Thame has reopened after a winter break.

The library, set up in memory of a former Mayor of Thame, is open every Wednesday, 10am to 2pm, at the Thame Barns Centre.

The library is a lending library for toys! Its great fun, excellent value and is also a meeting place for parents. Just call in any Wednesday and meet Pat and Nazeen, who run the toy libary.

Image – images.google.co.uk

COME and join the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), Oxfordshire Branch, on a short walk along the Oxford Green Belt Way.

The walk will commence at Shotover at 3pm, and be led by TV personality, Wesley Smith (Regional TV presenter).

The walk will finish at 4pm at Horspath Village Hall, where there will be refreshments and a short rally to be addressed by John Howell MP, outlining current threats to the Oxford Green Belt.

Contact: Helena Whall, CPRE Oxfordshire Campaign Manager on: 07766 624990 or email: campaign@cpreoxon.org.uk

THE theme for this year’s Thame Festival was going to be Space, in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the first, manned moon landing.
However, the Festival committee have decided to broaden the theme because some local groups voiced the opinion that the original theme may be restrictive.

In a statement, Thame Festival committee member, Kathryn Osman, said: “It was decided we would just take on a general theme of ‘Carnival’ and leave this down to peoples interpretation, maybe taking inspiration from all the different types of Carnivals that happen around the world. We hope this will make the parade colourful, active and full of variety.

“We are hoping to encourage as many community groups and businesses to get involved and join in the fun of the day. We are hoping that the parade can be well supported and encourage a real sense of community spirit. It is important that we have an idea on the number of organisations willing to participate in the parade as soon as possible. There will as always be the option of walking entries or Vehicular entries.”

Groups, businesses, club etc who would like to take part in this year’s Festival, or anyone who would like to help with the organisation can contact Kathryn by email: k.osman@tiscali.co.uk or call her on 01844 217613.

THE collection and prosessing of food waste, due to begin later this year in Oxfordshire, will be the first county-wide food waste collections to be processed using anaerobic digestion on a large scale.

Read the full story LINK

ANTON Mcpherson (born 15/06/1990) of Manchester Road, Heaton Norris, has been convicted of three counts of burglary on December 8, 2008.

He was due to appear at Manchester Crown Court for sentencing on January 5, 2009, but failed to appear at court. The judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

Detectives believe that Mcpherson may have travelled to the South East.

Detective Constable Scott Pierce said: “Mcpherson is a prolific career criminal, and we believe that he will be offending wherever he is. It is therefore imperative that we track him down as soon as possible.

“If anyone has any information about his whereabouts, they are asked to get in touch with us.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

POLICE officers in Wheatley have warned residents to take extra security precautions following a spate of car crimes in the area.

Since February 8, thieves have stolen eight vehicles, stolen items from a further four vehicles and caused criminal damage to another three.

PC Ian D?Angeli has urged motorists in the area to take precautions. He said: “Car crime can cost the victim a huge amount of money. But, through higher insurance premiums, these crimes affect all motorists.
“Since February 8, car criminals in the Wheatley area have particularly targeted old vehicles, particular old models of Vauxhall Corsa, Rover Metro and Ford Fiestas.
“To minimise the risk to a vehicle, motorists should fit steering wheel locks, immobilisers and, when possible, park in well-lit areas.
“I would also urge anyone who witnesses any car crime to contact me through the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. Alternatively, if you know someone involved in car crime, but don?t want to give your name to police, call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.”

Picture: Older models like this Corsa are being targeted by thieves in Wheatley.

AS WELL AS now having its own website, members of the Thame and District Day Centre will soon learning all about the World Wide Web on the centre’s own computer.

The Day Centre Manager, Gill Coleman, told ThameNews.Net: “Our ‘Silver Surfers’ will be able to learn how to use e-mail and we will actually show them what www means and all the jargon!

“Also they could do their own shopping on line. But this will all take time to set up and we need to find a volunteer with computer skills to come in and help me deliver this. My wish also is to persuade the committee to find funding to buy a Nintendo Wii for the Day Centre then our members can get some exercise playing tennis, bowls, base ball etc. It?s a very exciting time.”

The Thame Day Centre’s web address is: www.thameanddistrictdaycentre.co.uk

Picture courtesy of Tiresias.org

A man charged with a robbery at a store in Wheatley, near Thame, has been remanded in custody.

Jon Shirley, aged 23m of no fixed abode, faces charges relating to three other robberies in the county, one attempted robbery and two firearms offences.

Jon Shirley is to appearf before Oxford Crown Court again on April 20.

A second man, Jamie Worthington-Hale, 35, of Stockleys Road, Oxford, also appeared in court charged with assisting an offender.

He was granted bail and ordered to appear at Oxford Crown Court again on April 27.